Editorial
Elimination of tax on sanitary pads laudable
It is wonderful news and incredibly refreshing that the government is eliminating the tax on sanitary pads.
This will make the product more affordable for young adolescent girls and women, which will ultimately reduce menstruation poverty.
As part of the 2024 Budget Statement that was delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta declared that sanitary pads will no longer be subject to tax.
“Mr. Speaker, “The implementation of the following reliefs has been prioritised, including Zero rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads,” the Finance Minister announced.
According to him, “This decision to scrap taxes on sanitary pads reflects our commitment to addressing women’s health needs and promoting gender equality.”
The action is undoubtedly important in the fight for gender equality as it would better manage menstrual hygiene, meet the specific healthcare needs of women, and lessen the financial burden on women and girls,
Additionally, the decision to remove the tax on locally produced sanitary pads would undoubtedly spur producers to increase output, which will benefit the economy of the nation.
Women’s rights groups, health campaigners, and manufacturers who have long pushed for the exemption of sanitary pads from taxes applauded the news.
The Spectator also joined the advocacy demanding the government to waive the tax on sanitary pads and to help women and adolescent girls by lowering the cost and increasing the accessibility of sanitary pads.
We hope that the removal of tax on sanitary pads will open the door for other policies that put women’s health and wellbeing first.
The Spectator continues to urge individuals, women activists, institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and other well-meaning Ghanaians to keep providing menstrual hygiene products to women and teenage girls across the country in order to improve their lives.
The Spectator calls on the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to ensure that producers of sanitary pads reduce the price of their goods as soon as the policy goes into effect in order to support the overall growth and development of the nation’s economy.
The government must also sustain the provision of water, sanitary facilities, and hygienic amenities (WASH) in order to retain girls in school.
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
